Project description
A robotic system for guiding magneto-acoustic micro-agents
Minimally invasive surgery often involves the use of diagnostic or therapeutic micro-agents. These micro-agents need to be accurately delivered and steered to deep-seated locations within the body. The EU-funded project MAESTRO will develop a robotic system that uses ultrasound and fluorescence images to visualise the micro-agents in real-time. The micro-agents will be delivered close to the target site using a magnetically-actuated probe. They will be robotically steered using magnetic fields and acoustic forces. The MAESTRO system will ensure the precise delivery of a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic micro-agents during minimally invasive surgery. Importantly, it is expected to find application in many clinical interventions as well as in targeted drug delivery.
Objective
Manual insertion of rigid and unactuated probes are commonly used during minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for delivering diagnostic agents and performing therapeutic interventions. These agents move in an uncontrolled way and are visualized using non-real-time imaging modalities. Controlled release and real-time navigation of these agents would revolutionize MIS and pioneer a myriad of novel clinical interventions, including on-site diagnosis and targeted drug delivery. The goal of MAESTRO is to design a magneto-acoustic robotic system that will enable precise delivery of a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic micro-agents using ultrasound (US) and fluorescence images for accurate feedback. In an unprecedented approach, I propose that the magneto-acoustic agents will be delivered using a magnetically-actuated flexible probe. As the probe and micro-agents deviate from their intended paths due to probe-tissue interaction and physiological processes, their controlled navigation requires development of a reliable multi-scale 3D model describing the evolving shape of the probe, and real-time tracking of micro-agents. These challenges will be overcome using a personalized pre-operative model based on anatomical details (acquired via US and fluorescence images) to achieve real-time intra-operative control of the probe, with feedback from US images and optical sensors. Furthermore, ultrafast US- and fluorescence-based imaging will be coupled to electromagnetic and piezoelectric systems to robustly control the micro-agents. The novel probe and micro-agents will be designed and evaluated in clinically-relevant scenarios with realistic physiological functionalities. The knowledge gained will be applicable to a range of flexible instruments, and to an assortment of personalized treatment scenarios. This research is motivated by the need to further reduce the invasiveness of MIS, improve clinical outcomes, minimize patient trauma, and enable treatment of inoperable patients.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine surgery
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
7522 NB Enschede
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.